Drownings prompt calls for passengers to wear life jackets
SIBU: Assistant Minister for River Transportation and Safety Liwan Lagang calls on passengers on river transport to make wearing of lifejackets a habit, especially with the expected surge in boat passengers this festive season.
He pointed out that most boats in rural areas were private boats and they were quite small, adding that the water current in these areas were quite swift.
“So, to me, life jacket is a must. Don’t think that you can swim because when an incident occurs, and when you are in the water, you might just panic and take in water. That will weaken you although you are a good swimmer.
“Therefore, at all times, upon stepping onto the boat, we should make it a culture to use life jacket. If there is no life jacket, then look for one,” Liwan told The Borneo Post yesterday.
The Belaga assemblyman was talking about the use of lifejackets in open boats like longboats following the three incidents that left two drowned and three still missing.
Two university students from Nigeria were drowned, while three individuals – two of them children – are missing after three boat- related incidents in Miri, Song and Bintangor.
“These boats are not licensed with Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) - these are private boats. I have emphasised to them ( SRB) that what matters now is the coming festive holiday where there will be a lot of travelling using boats, including express boats,” Liwan stressed.
He said SRB personnel were working closely with other enforcement agencies.
Meanwhile, the Fire and Rescue ( Bomba) Department revealed that it had recorded 41 drowning cases across Sarawak.
Bomba director Nor Hisham Mohammad said of the 41 drowning deaths, five cases happened in the sea, 35 in the rivers while one in a lake.
He said the department had been cautioning the public especially rural folks to use life jackets while travelling on the seas or in the rivers but still fatal cases of drowning happened.
“Since two or three years ago, we have been giving the advice to the public especially to rural folks who frequently use rivers as a form of transportation. However, it still happens.”
“We have been reminding boat owners that for themselves or their passengers who may not be able to swim so well, be prepared. For those who do not know how to swim, it is a must to wear life jacket or get a float.
“For those who know how to swim well, they can start wearing it when the weather turns bad or river current becomes swift. Don’t take things for granted. Even though they might swim well, they might hit a rock or the current is too strong for them,” said Nor Hisham.
Sarawak River Board ( SRB) chairman Murni Suhaili called on longboat owners not to overload their boats with passengers.
“Apart from not wearing life jacket, overloading has been one of the main causes of boat accidents in rivers,” he pointed out.
“We have been doing campaigns among rural folks still depending on river transport to use life jacket. We even give away some life jackets away. Apart from us, as far as I know, other departments are also doing the same thing - Bomba as well as the Marine Department.”
A member of the Water Activity Safety Council (WASC) Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye yesterday also warned that drowning cases happened quite frequently especially during school holidays.
“According to the Statistics Department, an average of 596 people died from drowning in a year between 2009 and 2013. Nearly half of the drowning cases involved children and teenagers, with those aged between five and 14 making up the biggest group of drowning victims. This brought the average death due to drowning to 1.6 per day.
“However, latest data from Fire and Rescue Department indicates that an average 700 people died from drowning annually in the country, especially at picnic and recreational areas,” Lee said.
He added that the authorities must conduct inspection at all recreational areas to maintain safety.
Therefore, at all times, upon stepping onto the boat, I think we should make it a culture that we use life jacket. If there is no life jacket, then look for one. Liwan Lagang, Assistant Minister for River Transportation and Safety